GUELPH — Simcoe County cash crop farmer Keith Currie has been acclaimed as OFA president for the second year in a row.
Currie, an eighth-generation farmer, has been president since first elected in 2016. Only OFA directors are allowed to run for the executive positions.
The OFA changed the rules this year for nominations for president and vice-president. In years past, a director could arrive at the November annual general meeting and announce at the last minute his intention to run. However, there was a feeling this didn’t give voters enough time to know the candidates or their platforms. This year, candidates had to put their name forward by Oct. 29.
While Currie was acclaimed, there will be an election for the two vice-president positions. Running are the two incumbents, Thunder Bay dairy farmer Peggy Brekveld and Waterloo County chicken and cash crop farmer Mark Reusser. Also running are Middlesex cash crop farmer Crispin Colvin and Bruce County lamb and crop farmer Pat Jilesen.
The vote will take place at the OFA’s annual general meeting in Hamilton on Nov. 19 and 20.
With a membership of 37,000 farm families, the OFA is Ontario’s largest farm organization.
